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Lightapalooza, the custom installation industry’s new platform for lighting design and integration, is currently lighting up the stage in Phoenix, Arizona. The second annual three-day event features over 60 hours of educational manufacturer lighting and lighting control sessions, 9 moderated panel sessions and other exciting news from the community. Expert speakers at the event include Janet Lennox Moyer, Amer Maleh, Peter Romaniello and David Warfel. Lightapalooza covers everything from landscape lighting and architectural lighting, to lighting design deliverables and fixture comparisons. Additionally, the event featured a reception hosted by ProSource, where the company discussed where the lighting category is headed in the future.  In other news, British audio brand Mitchell Acoustics has recently launched their lineup of products in the United States. The company’s mission is to bring back stereo listening for everyone at an affordable price point. Mitchell Acoustics’ devices f...

On Friday, Samsung officially announced the global launch of its new smartphone lineup – the Galaxy S23 series. The series, which includes three different models, features the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile platform and a new design meant to excel the company’s sustainability goals. The Galaxy S23, S23+ and S23 Ultra all boast cutting-edge camera and graphic capabilities, as well as the Samsung Message Guard, which preemptively protects against zero-click exploit cyberattacks. The smartphone series is currently available through Samsung’s website and numerous retailers, and comes in phantom black, cream, green, and lavender colorways.  In other news, technology company Snom has introduced a new feature to its lineup of D7XX Series desk phones. The company has announced that the phone series is now certified to use with Zoom, thanks to Zoom’s leading enterprise community. The desk phones are adaptable for those working remotely, in-office, or a hybrid model and will now give users a reli...

LivePerson has enhanced its industry-leading Conversational Cloud platform to help enterprise brands leverage Generative AI and Conversational AI in tandem to drive better business outcomes. Its AI innovations have been recognized by the world’s leading awards and recognition programs for customer care, sales, marketing, and technology. The company started investing in large language models (LLMs) early, integrating them into its Conversational Cloud platform beginning in 2019 to drive dialog, understand user intent and sentiment, and recognize conversation success and resolution. This month, the brand announced updates that will empower enterprises to safely and productively leverage Generative AI within its trusted Conversational AI platform, including: Knowledge AI This feature will be enhanced to include generative capabilities from OpenAI, beginning in the coming weeks with select co-innovation partner brands. Currently, hundreds of the world’s largest brands use Knowledge AI to c...

Samsung’s latest flagship PC lineup features the Galaxy Book3 Ultra, as well as the Book3 Pro 360 and Book3 Pro.  The Ultra has a set of dynamic features, including a 2-in-1 convertible design and S Pen functionality, while the Book3 Pro has a lightweight design that makes it purposefully portable.  Samsung says its Book3 series is made for those looking to make use of multi-device connectivity, with the dependable hardware to carry out all manner of tasks.  “Today, we’re seeing an increasing number of people using multiple devices to perform efficiently. These new workflows are made possible thanks to our open and extensive Galaxy ecosystem,” said TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics.  “The latest Galaxy Book3 series further enriches our connected offerings. It is tailor-made for Galaxy enthusiasts looking for ultra-high computing performance and seamless connected Galaxy experiences to maximize their productivity and creat...

Meta announced that Within has officially joined its ranks after two years of trying to acquire the virtual reality fitness company. Within is owned by Reality Labs and is the creator of Supernatural, an app that features tons of immersive VR workouts. Within will continue to operate independently but will now work with Meta on enhancing future hardware to support VR fitness experiences. Meta revealed plans to acquire Within in 2021, but the deal was blocked after the Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint alleging Meta was building a “virtual reality empire,” CNET reported.  In other news, Garmin has released a new hybrid smartwatch called the vívomove Trend. The watch combines a classic analog design with everything a smartwatch has to offer, including smartphone notifications, quick-reply texting and contactless payment. The smartwatch also boasts plenty of fitness features and lets you track weekly activity, resting heart rate and body fat percentage. The vívomove Trend sta...

Samsung has announced that its new 2023 77-inch OLED S95C TV is now available for pre-order on the company’s website. Customers who place a pre-order for the TV through February 20 will receive free in-home installation by a professional. The OLED TV is the world’s first that features Quantum Dot Technology, which provides excellent screen brightness, pure blacks and more than a billion shades of lifelike colors. It also boasts 4K resolution from any source and is great for gaming, thanks to a 144Hz refresh rate. The 77-inch OLED S95C TV costs $4,449.99 and will begin shipping later this month.  In other news, Google is rolling out its new “Immersive View” Maps feature in five cities, including Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. The new feature combines aerial photography with Maps’ Street view mode for a 3D experience using artificial intelligence and computer vision. According to Engadget, Google created the feature to help users plan trips by showing contextual information...

Electric Vehicles are becoming increasingly popular thanks to their ease of charging, lower carbon emissions and better fuel economy. While the global EV market was estimated to be worth $185 billion in 2021, that number is expected to grow to $980 billion by 2028. A report from market research company Facts and Factors estimated that the EV market will grow annually at a CAGR of around 24.5% over the forecast period of 2022-2028. That growth is likely to be spearheaded by companies like Chevy, Hyundai, GM and Tesla.  However, the potential growth of the EV market has also raised concerns over lithium-ion battery shortages. While that market is expected to reach $94.15 billion by 2025, it has recently been plagued by labor and raw material shortages, delays in the construction of gigafactories and increasing geopolitical tensions. Nearly all EVs are powered by lithium-ion batteries and the rise in their production is likely to put significant tension on the profit margins of both b...

Applied safety science outfit UL Solutions recently announced that it will expand its laboratories around the world, to accommodate the rising market growth for Internet of Things and wireless device technologies.   UL Solutions said it will be expanding its laboratories in California, Taiwan and the United Kingdom, making them further equipped for electromagnetic compatibility testing and certification.  Market growth for Internet of Things inspires UL Solutions facility expansion  UL Solutions claims that manufacturers will benefit from the latest electromagnetic compatibility testing technology, which features in the company’s laboratories in the United States and the United Kingdom. Said laboratories can also help manufacturers increase capacity regarding “ consumer electronics , appliances, lighting, information technology devices, medical devices, automotive, high-tech components, Internet of Things (IoT), industrial, and last mile electric and micro...

The three internet of things (IoT) products by Oppo are intended to help users be productive and stick to their New Year resolutions. The Oppo Band 2: A Smart Life Assistant Using the Internet of Things The first of Oppo’s three new internet of things products is the Oppo Band 2, a smartwatch featuring an “ultra-clear” screen, as well as a variety of features to help users lead a healthy lifestyle. The Band 2 contains more than 100 workouts, and can automatically detect activities such as walking and running, or using an elliptical or rowing machine. Oppo says its new product also has improved running features, so that heart rate can be monitored via the HeyTap app. Furthermore, users of the Oppo Band 2 can gain access to their health data and sleeping patterns, with options to detect the wearer’s heart rate and blood oxygen. Meanwhile, OSleep feature helps users arrange their sleep schedules, and can monitor the different phases of sleep, along with oxygen levels. Keeping User...